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Francis Scott Key Biography

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KEY, Francis Scott (1780–1843). A lawyer, born in Frederick Co., Md., Aug. 9, 1780, noted in American letters as the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Key was a graduate of St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. He practiced law at Frederick, Md., in 1801, and later removed to Washington, where he became district attorney of the District of Columbia. In 1814, during the attack of the British on Baltimore, he went on an errand, under a flag of truce, to the British fleet, but was detained while the bombardment of Fort McHenry, the defense of Baltimore, was taking place. He watched the progress of the fight from the British ship during the night and in the morning, seeing the Stars and Stripes still waving triumphantly, composed his famous song. This was at once printed and became almost instantly popular. It was sung to the tune "Anacreon in Heaven," and is to-day perhaps the favorite heroic song of America. By general order it is the national air in the army and navy. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was printed, with other poems by Key, in 1857, the volume as a whole adding nothing to his reputation. Consult: J. T. Brooke, Sketch of the Character of the Late Francis Scott Key (Cincinnati, 1843); F. S. Key-Smith, Francis Scott Key, with a Glimpse of his Ancestors (Washington, 1909); id., Francis Scott Key, Author of the Star-Spangled Banner, What Else he Was, and Who (ib., 1911).

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XIII (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 199-200.